Tiger tracks

I collected several photos from various resources to demonstrate tigers' tracks, especially for "initial production type" tigers. They are my own observations and might not be correct. Please feel free to provide your opinions. Thanks.

credit: Ryton's "Tiger I and Sturmtiger in Detail"
This is an early production Tiger from sPz.Abt.502. It carried the standard tracks. For convenience, I termed the terminal projection "track pad" and the most outsid lug "end lug". "Standard" tracks of tigers had their track pad and end lug V-shaped in right side and inverted V (^) in left side. You will see these symbles repeatedly below.

credit: Schiffer's "DW to Tiger I"
This is Fgst.Nr.V1. Its tracks were installed identically in direction to the standard type.

credit: Schiffer's "DW to Tiger I"
Chassis of Fgst.Nr.250001. Its left side tracks had V-shaped end lugs and pads at the rear. That means their direction is identical to standard tracks.
credit: same as above
Right side tracks of 25001. Lugs and pads were inverted V-shaped, opposite to the left side tracks in direction.

credit: JJF "Tigers in combat I"
One of the first tigers of sPzAbt.501 shipped to N.Africa. It had standard tracks.

credit: Frontline Illustration's book
Famous Tiger 100 and its "mirror-imaged" tracks.
A close-up of its left side tracks
right side tracks, an mirror image of the left side ones.

Comparing with the above standard tracks, it is clear that the standard tracks were identical to left side tracks of Tiger 100 and installed in opposite direction at right side.

credit: Frontline Illustration's book
Tiger 121, one of the vehicles in Dragon's setting. Notice its tracks: opposite in direction.
A close-up of right side tracks.
A close-up of left side tracks.

Though similar, the tracks of Tiger 121 were different from the standard tracks because they were identical to the right side tracks of Tiger 100. Tom is right at this.
If you want to build Dragon's kit into Tiger 121, you will need two sets of the right side tracks.

credit: Frontline Illustration's book
This is a shot after Tiger 121 was captured by Russians in 1943 January.
A close-up of its left side tracks. The direction is identical to the above photos.

credit: Frontline Illustration's book
Another shot of Tiger 121.
A close-up of right side tracks. They were also identical to the above photos.

These two (four) photos demonstrate that it is more likely German themselves installed the tracks but not Russians.

credit: Frontline Illustration's book
An unknown very initial tiger of sPzAbt.502 waiting for transporting back to repair. Its right side tracks were identical in direction to standard but not mirror-imaged types.

credit: Frontline Illustration's book
Tiger 111 of sPzAbt.502, one of the four Tigers sent to Lenningrad. Its right side tracks were identical in direction with those of Tiger 100. So it is very likely that Tiger 111 also carried mirror-imaged tracks.

credit: Frontline Illustration's book
A close-up of left side tracks of Tiger 2 of sPzABt.502 in early 1943. Its direction was identical to the standard (left side tracks of Tiger 100). Hard to tell if they were mirror-imaged or standard types (I prefer the latter).

In conclusion, it would be safer to build your Dragon's initial Tigers into first few Lenningrad Tigers (111, 112, 113?, 100) because of their mirror-imaged tracks. Two kits or additional standard tracks would be needed if you want to build them into later vehicles.

credit: Ryton's "Tiger I and Sturmtiger in Detail"
When arriving in Tunis, the famous Tiger 142 carried "standard" transportation tracks. The different types of tracks were not due to the production chronology.

credit: Schiffer's "DW to Tiger I"
Even so late in 1943 summer, Tigers still used mirror-imaged tracks.

I collected several photos from various resources to demonstrate tigers' tracks, especially for "initial production type" tigers. They are my own observations and might not be correct. Please feel free to provide your opinions. Thanks.

credit: Ryton's "Tiger I and Sturmtiger in Detail"
This is an early production Tiger from sPz.Abt.502. It carried the standard tracks. For convenience, I termed the terminal projection "track pad" and the most outsid lug "end lug". "Standard" tracks of tigers had their track pad and end lug V-shaped in right side and inverted V (^) in left side. You will see these symbles repeatedly below.

credit: Schiffer's "DW to Tiger I"
This is Fgst.Nr.V1. Its tracks were installed identically in direction to the standard type.

credit: Schiffer's "DW to Tiger I"
Chassis of Fgst.Nr.250001. Its left side tracks had V-shaped end lugs and pads at the rear. That means their direction is identical to standard tracks.
credit: same as above
Right side tracks of 25001. Lugs and pads were inverted V-shaped, opposite to the left side tracks in direction.

credit: JJF "Tigers in combat I"
One of the first tigers of sPzAbt.501 shipped to N.Africa. It had standard tracks.

credit: Frontline Illustration's book
Famous Tiger 100 and its "mirror-imaged" tracks.
A close-up of its left side tracks
right side tracks, an mirror image of the left side ones.

Comparing with the above standard tracks, it is clear that the standard tracks were identical to left side tracks of Tiger 100 and installed in opposite direction at right side.

credit: Frontline Illustration's book
Tiger 121, one of the vehicles in Dragon's setting. Notice its tracks: opposite in direction.
A close-up of right side tracks.
A close-up of left side tracks.

Though similar, the tracks of Tiger 121 were different from the standard tracks because they were identical to the right side tracks of Tiger 100. Tom is right at this.
If you want to build Dragon's kit into Tiger 121, you will need two sets of the right side tracks.

credit: Frontline Illustration's book
This is a shot after Tiger 121 was captured by Russians in 1943 January.
A close-up of its left side tracks. The direction is identical to the above photos.

credit: Frontline Illustration's book
Another shot of Tiger 121.
A close-up of right side tracks. They were also identical to the above photos.

These two (four) photos demonstrate that it is more likely German themselves installed the tracks but not Russians.

credit: Frontline Illustration's book
An unknown very initial tiger of sPzAbt.502 waiting for transporting back to repair. Its right side tracks were identical in direction to standard but not mirror-imaged types.

credit: Frontline Illustration's book
Tiger 111 of sPzAbt.502, one of the four Tigers sent to Lenningrad. Its right side tracks were identical in direction with those of Tiger 100. So it is very likely that Tiger 111 also carried mirror-imaged tracks.

credit: Frontline Illustration's book
A close-up of left side tracks of Tiger 2 of sPzABt.502 in early 1943. Its direction was identical to the standard (left side tracks of Tiger 100). Hard to tell if they were mirror-imaged or standard types (I prefer the latter).

In conclusion, it would be safer to build your Dragon's initial Tigers into first few Lenningrad Tigers (111, 112, 113?, 100) because of their mirror-imaged tracks. Two kits or additional standard tracks would be needed if you want to build them into later vehicles.

credit: Ryton's "Tiger I and Sturmtiger in Detail"
When arriving in Tunis, the famous Tiger 142 carried "standard" transportation tracks. The different types of tracks were not due to the production chronology.

credit: Schiffer's "DW to Tiger I"
Even so late in 1943 summer, Tigers still used mirror-imaged tracks.

Hello Zheng,
I have the Frontline book but it doesn't seem to identify that Tiger as 111. Is it in the Russian text or did you identify it from another source?
I made a model of 111 from the Tamiya "Initial" kit and I made a bit of a mess of it so I am interested in pics of it
Thanks very much for the work you have done on the tracks.

Hi Roger
You are right that the Frontline book does not say the tiger was 111, at least in English. I just remember I saw the picture somewhere else and said it was Tiger 111. But the setting on its rear did not match mcuh with Tiger 111 as another photo shows. Perhaps the photo I provided is not Tiger 111. But it was one of the four Tigers arrived in Mga in late August, as the caption in the book says.
Cheers,
Tang